Disney has a stranglehold on media as a concept these days. Where getting to a point where there’s little under the sun Disney doesn’t own or won’t own by the end of the decade. The Mouse is stronger than ever, and it all it took was a couple of live-action remakes and the acquisition of a mega-franchise to essentially guarantee the success of the Disney dynasty for generations to come.
Cultures will rise and fall, but Disney will be forever. It’s a bit sad the current state Disney is in, as it’s almost hard to believe this was a company that, early in its career, produced truly groundbreaking art. The modern Disney movie is still entertaining in its own right, and even occasionally hits true greatness, but it’s hard to beat the classics.
Even if Disney hasn’t always been able to keep the momentum.
Saludos Amigos (6.2)
The first thing worth noting about Disney’s first ten films is that the first five were received fairly well, and the succeeding five… weren’t. They weren’t as outwardly reviled as some later Disney animated pictures (particularly those of the ’70s and ’80s,) but there’s a reason the next five films we’re about to cover aren’t really discussed.
Saludos Amigos is the film that started Disney’s downward trend, and while subsequent films would improve in quality per IMDb, it’s a bit shocking to note how low Saludos Amigos is in comparison not only to its contemporary films, but the rest of the Disney canon. The film is composed of four unique segments taking place in Latin America, albeit this only contributes to its disjointed and scattershot nature, especially in conjunction with its 42 minute runtime.
Make Mine Music (6.3)
If nothing else, Make Mine Music has a very interesting story about it. In production during World War II, a good chunk of Disney’s staff was drafted, resulting in Make Mine Music losing any and all potential cohesiveness. To remedy this, the film styled itself off of Fantasia, showcasing ten unique musical segments.
Unfortunately, not a single segment really comes to compete with anything showcased in Fantasia. Really, Make Mine Music is appreciable more as a piece of Disney history than as a film– a compilation of where Disney was creatively during World War II. It’s not Disney’s best work, but it’s interesting work.
Melody Time (6.4)
A spiritual sequel of sorts to Make Mine Music, Melody Time does not have the same unique history behind it, but it does stand out as a better film. Perhaps not considerably, but since the time of its release, reception has (if nothing else) become more positive towards Melody Time (even if it didn’t make as much as Make Mine Music at the box office.
Likewise stylized in the structure of Fantasia, Melody Time is mainly composed of musical shorts, essentially giving Disney animators free rein to do as they please. It’s quite impressive on a technical level, but the songs and general direction leave much to be desired.
The Three Caballeros (6.5)
A follow up of sorts to Saludos Amigos, it’s best to think of The Three Caballeros as a more cohesive version of what came before. The characters share much better chemistry with one another, and the film is framed through Donald Duck opening birthday presents form his Latin American buddies, giving the movie structure.
At the same time, that’s really all the film does to improve itself. If you didn’t like Saludos Amigos, it’s highly unlikely The Three Caballeros will win you over. It’s a movie reflective of a very specific era in Disney history, designed for the very specific purpose of serving as Good Neighbor Policy.
Fun And Fancy Free (6.6) [9]
A double feature, Fun and Fancy Free is a double-edged sword. The film is composed of two distinct stories: Bongo and Mickey and the Beanstalk. Of the two, one is considered a classic piece of Disney animation while the other failed to lang. The second is Bongo, a story about a circus bear narrated by Jiminy Cricket.
Mickey and the Beanstalk is a Disney take on the classic tale of Jack and the Beanstalk, startting Mickey & Co as the heroic, beanstalk-climbing central characters.
Dumbo (7.2)
We can finally start discussing the classics, the first five films which helped Disney define a style that would ensure their continued success for decades to come. Even in spite of the company’s failings, these five movies produced enough goodwill to keep Disney afloat long enough for them to change course during a time of failure.
Beloved for its eclectic imagery and touching, at times sorrowful, story, Dumbo’s subject matter can make it difficult to go back to, but it highlight the creativity that was always present within Disney’s employment. Dumbo’s set pieces are strange to the point of being timeless.
But you’re going to have to explain those crows.
Bambi (7.3)
The last Disney film before things started to fall apart for a few years, Bambi is if nothing else a nice note to end the first chapter of Disney’s success on. While Disney never shied away from mature subject matter in its first four pictures, Bambi is considerably darker and tackles adult themes & concepts in a very realistic way.
The death of Bambi’s mother is painfully jarring, but it transitions into a universal coming of age story that has its protagonist facing grief head on. Coupled with its beautiful imagery and a story that goes under-appreciated far too often, Bambi is one of Disney’s finest earliest showings.
Pinocchio (7.4)
Forever the source of nightmares for children everywhere, Pinocchio is a hard film to really put into words. It’s eclectic, both tonally and structurally. Meandering around with purpose, but still meandering. All the same, there’s a sense of adventure that’s not necessarily whimsical, but still engaging. All this to say: Pinocchio is a weird movie.
But a good movie that’s well animated and well directed. Pinocchio has a way of really resonating with its audience emotionally, connecting on a level of innocence we all recognize we’ve lost. This is a film about the importance of wishing and believing– connecting with that inner child inside of us.
Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs (7.6)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a masterpiece. To this day, it holds up as a testament to Disney’s creativity– taking a familiar fairytale and adapting it into something so much more. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a work of art that transcends its source material. This is the animated feature film. The reason Disney exists as it does today.
And it really is a marvelous movie. Beyond the beautiful animation and the enchanting score is a timeless story filled with whimsy, laughter, drama, and sorrow. It’s the classic fairy tale in its purest elements, told in the most high quality way possible. Snow White feels its age in the best way possible, as if you’re watching history in motion.
Fantasia (7.8)
Snow White’s not the only masterpiece in Disney’s early run. Really, it’s hard to compete with Fantasia in general, a true powerhouse of vision and creativity. Animation wise, it’s brilliant. From start to finish, this is a captivating movie, every segment showcasing something different. Musically, it really doesn’t get better than this. There’s a reason Fantasia’s never been outdone.
All the same, Fantasia ends up one of the more overlooked movies in the Disney canon. Most fans recognize it exists and its reception, but a good chunk haven’t actually watched it. If you’re someone who hasn’t seen Fantasia yet, do yourself a favor. It’s the best in Disney’s early line-up, according to IMDb, at least.
